2022 Gold Award Winner — Juvenile Fiction, Next Generation Indie Book Awards

2022 Silver Award Winner — Young Reader (ages 8–12), IBPN Benjamin Franklin Awards

Twelve-year-old Matt Sprouts is in big trouble. He didn't mean to hurt his neighbor Jenna with that awesome ninja move, it just happened! Blame it on morning cartoons or Jenna's lack of coordination. Any­ways, getting grounded is the worst thing that could happen, right?

Wrong.

After the ninja incident spirals into a series of downright unfortunate events, it's decided that Matt has contracted "the Curse," a hometown myth that has ruined the lives of middle schoolers before him. And as if the Curse weren't enough, entering sixth grade proves to be just as mysterious-his first job, a strange girlfriend, insane teachers, and soccer tournaments bring more problems.

Finally, his life's unpredictable path leads Matt to take matters into his own hands. To put a stop to every­thing, he calls upon awkward new friends, bumblebees, the Purple Grape Lady, crutches, and a few other tricks to attempt the impossible: break THE CURSE!

Matt Eicheldinger wasn't always a writer. He spent most of his childhood playing soccer, reading comics, and trying his best to stay out of trouble. Little did he know those moments would ultimately help craft his first novel, Matt Sprouts and the Curse of Ten Broken Toes.

Matt lives in Minnesota with his wife and two children, and tries to create new adventures with them whenever possible. When he's not writing, you can find him telling students stories in the classroom or trail running along the Minnesota River Bottoms.